How fast is the ethanol-powered Exige, then?
Its very fast. Lotus has calculated (on computers with brains the size of Manchester) that the 265E will sprint from zero to 60mph in 3.9sec and zap to 100mph from standstill in 9.2sec. Top speed is 158mph. Impressive though they are, those figures dont reveal all. Riding shotgun around the Hethel test track with one of Lotuss top development drivers, Gavan Kershaw, he explained that the 265E exits the circuits famous Windsock corner about 10mph quicker than the Exige S. And approaching the chicane wall at the end of the main straight at 140mph+, Kershaw also pointed out that youd struggle to beat that speed in a twin-turbo V8 Esprit. Apparently the 265E is significantly quicker all the way around the track, to the extent that the brakes in the car have been upgraded to four-pot callipers at the front working on larger diameter (310mm drilled and vented) discs. Out on the road you feel the advantages of the bio-ethanol fuel in a number of ways. Firstly theres the cars speed, which is n
